Maharashtra elections: BJP's Pankaja Munde trailing as estranged cousin takes lead

Sitting BJP MLA Pankaja Munde, daughter of BJP veteran late Gopinath Munde, is locked in a fierce battle with Dhananjay for the Parli assembly segment in neighbouring Beed district in the state assembly elections. As initial trends trickled in, Pankaja Munde was found trailing in the seat.

Dhananjay, the leader of opposition in the state legislative council, kicked up a row by allegedly making obscene comments against Pankaja at a campaign rally, resulting in an FIR against him.

Under flak, Dhananjay claimed the video clip, in which he was purportedly heard making the comments against Pankaja, was edited and fake. He said his remarks were "distorted" to project him as a "villain" by his rivals to win elections.

On Sunday evening, Pankaja visited Gopinathgad, the memorial of her late father in Parli.

"Statement of Dhananjay Munde has brought a feeling of disgust to my mind. I am fed up with this mentality. This is perverted politics (sic)," she told reporters.

Pankaja said she had witnessed many a elections and "liars" in the past. "But this experience (remarks made by Dhananjay) has shocked me," she added.